Hanging up gloves after one last bout

DUAL Olympian Brad Hore took up professional boxing late and he will be giving it away early - admitting his love for the sport has diminished.

The Caloundra fighter has announced his next bout - for the lightly regarded World Boxing Union super bantamweight belt - will be his last.

The southpaw fights Filipino Lionel Legada at Caloundra RSL on December 6.

"I was never really interested in turning pro," he said.

"I've got new dreams that I want to do.

"The love of the sport is not as much as it used to be."

Hore, 32, has fought four times professionally.

He rebounded from his sole loss when he won the state bantamweight title with an eight-round unanimous points decision over Queenslander Tommy Clarke in May. The fight against Legada, a 23-year-old with a record of 11 wins, five losses and a draw, is his first since then.

Hore decided to quit while recovering from a broken hand sustained during the Clarke fight.

"It just took too long to recover," he said.

"I've been in it (boxing) too long - 23 years and 212 amateur fights (for 175 wins).

"I had a good career with two Olympics and two Commonwealth Games. I just think I need a new challenge."

After competing at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Hore unsuccessfully attempted to qualify for the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games.

In his first professional bout, in July last year, he beat Queenslander David Smith on points over six rounds.

Hore followed that up last November with an eight-round unanimous points win over a Thai fighter.

His next fight was a shot at the national bantamweight title, but Filipino journeyman Roberto Lerio stopped him in three.

"I just want to work fulltime and start saving money and things like that," Hore said.